Soles4Souls Inc. Announces Launch of Fundraising Website for Haiti Relief

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Soles4Souls Inc. has announced PROJECT HAITI, a grassroots campaign to engage the general public in collecting footwear and funds for victims of the 7.0 earthquake that devastated the Western Hemisphere's poorest country.  Participants can create a customized page on the charity's website (www.soles4soulsfundraising.org) to raise footwear and funds that will be designated for Haiti Relief Projects.

"We have fielded thousands of phone calls and emails from people around the country wanting to roll up their sleeves and help mobilize their communities," said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of the shoe charity.  "PROJECT HAITI is designed to do that by encouraging people to clean out their closets and donate gently worn shoes to one of our many collection partners," he said.

In Nashville alone, there are over 400 locations that collect on behalf of the shoe charity and three will begin a stepped up campaign for PROJECT HAITI on Monday morning, according to Elsey.  "The response from our partners in the footwear industry has been phenomenal, but we've also been humbled by the tremendous response from the general public," Elsey said.  "Everyday people are stepping up in amazing numbers and plugging into our network of community action centers," he said.

Soles4Souls originally earmarked 250,000 pair of new shoes for Haiti, but on Saturday increased that commitment to one million pairs of footwear.  "The whole reason we were able to increase that commitment is because of the 'Good Samaritans' in neighborhoods across America who are stepping up in a huge way," he said.

For more information on Soles4Souls and its relief partners, visit www.giveshoes.org.

About Soles4Souls®

Soles4Souls is a Nashville-based charity that collects shoes from warehouses of footwear companies and the closets of people like you.  We distribute these shoes, free of charge, to people in need around the world. Since 2005, Soles4Souls has given away over 7 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes (currently distributing one pair every 9 seconds). The shoes have been distributed in 125 countries, including Haiti, Kenya, Nepal and the United States. Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS and donating parties are eligible for tax advantages. Visit www.giveshoes.org for more information.

SOURCE Soles4Souls Inc.